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North Korean people honour Kim Jong-Il’s memory with three-minute silence

The head of state passed away on last December 17 of a heart attack, caused by extreme overwork

PYONGYANG, March 25 (Itar-Tass) — North Korean premier Choe Yong Rim, speaking on Sunday at a mass rally in the capital’s central square on the occasion of the 100 days since the death of the head of state, pointed to great services of Kim Jong-Il to the Korean nation.

He noted that the deceased leader turned North Korea “into a militarily strong country”, made an important contribution to the cause of reunification of the two parts of the Korean Peninsula. Besides, the premier continued, “Kim Jong-Il brilliantly settled the question on continuity of power”.

Choe also pointed to important measures, taken by the leader’s young son Kim Jong-Un, to immortalize the memory of his father. For instance, at the initiative of the new North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Il was awarded the title of generalissimo, and the Kumsusan Memorial Palace was renamed into the “Palace of Sun”.

In this connection, the prime minister called for standing closer behind Kim Jong-Un whose leadership “will be a guarantee for successful implementation of the DPRK’s revolutionary course”.

Then, the rally was addressed by Minister of People’s Armed Forces and Vice-Marshal Kim Yong-Chun. According to the vice-marshal, thanks to Kim Jong-Il’s efforts, North Korea “has turned into an invincible country which nobody dares to attack”.

Now, the minister went on to say, the state is headed by Kim Jong-Un, inspecting military units and “demonstrating firm determination to pursue further the songun policy (militarily oriented policy of North Korea)”. The vice-marshal noted that such trips “instill faith in victory into our servicemen”.

“The people and the army will defend with all efforts the central committee of the Korean Workers Party headed by Kim Jong-Un,” the minister stressed. He blasted the South Korean authorities for the provocative policy of confrontation against fellow countrymen in the North.

Following the rally in the central square of Pyongyang where a large portrait of Kim Jong-Il was exhibited and where gun salvoes thundered, North Korean people honoured the memory of the passed leader with three-minute silence exactly at 12.00 local time. All locomotives and ships as well as cars hooted simultaneously.

The rally was attended by all the country’s leadership, including Kim Jong-Un, heads and representatives of foreign diplomatic missions, officers of international humanitarian organizations, operating here, and foreign reporters.

Rallies and meetings, dedicated to Kim Jong-Il who headed North Korea over the past 17 years, took place in all districts of the country. The head of state passed away on last December 17 of a heart attack, caused by extreme overwork.

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